Saratoga County board to vote on creating LDC for Maplewood Manor nursing home

BALLSTON SPA -- Tuesday, the full Saratoga County Board of Supervisors will vote on whether a local development corporation will be created to manage the sale of county-owned nursing home Maplewood Manor to a private buyer.

The final vote by the full board comes after the Public Health Committee approved the transaction less than one month ago and the Law and Finance Committee approved the move less than one week ago.

If the resolution is passed by the board, a public hearing will be scheduled before the assets are officially transferred.

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The proposed transaction has raised tensions between county officials and Maplewood Manor employees, residents and their families.

By 2 p.m. Monday, 14 people had signed up to speak to the Board of Supervisors before the final vote. The monthly public comment period typically attracts few or no speakers.

The meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 20, at the county complex on McMaster Street in Ballston Spa.

Saratoga County's tentative 2013 budget already includes $6 million in revenue borrowed against the nursing home's equity, which can only happen once it is transferred to an LDC -- a financial move the county is unable to make with public assets.

Every indication is that the board will vote to approve the transfer to an LDC; resolutions that have been passed by committees are rarely voted down by the full board.

If and when the nursing home is sold to a private company, the county will receive less money as a result of the borrowed revenue. The county administrator said the only other option was emptying the county's fund balance or raising taxes by 20 percent to cover operating expenses.

A 40-bed unit at Maplewood Manor was officially closed last week, a tactic expected to save the county $1 million in net finances. The removed beds were located throughout the nursing home and required 32 patients be moved to new beds.

Maplewood Manor Administrator Diane Wood said Monday that the move went smoothly.

A grassroots movement attempting to stop or slow the process of privatizing the nursing home has picked up momentum as the vote draws near.

Saratoga Springs Supervisor Joanne Dittes-Yepsen announced on Saturday the formation of Citizens Advocate for a Sustainable Maplewood Manor.

"The group grew very organically out of all the people who don't feel like they are being represented in this process. We all agree that it's really important that everyone has a voice in this process so that we end up with the best outcome possible," Yepsen said.

Members of that group are expected to present a report on the privatization process that will include an analysis of expenses, a synopsis of revenue generators and grants and other information.